Ore-concentrator.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

W. LERGHEN.

ORB CONCENTRATOR.

PPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 5.1905.

I I m v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LERCHEN,

ORE-GONG OF ALMA, COLORADO ENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 27, 1906- Kpplication filed September 6, 1905. Serial No. 277.030-

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM LERCHEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Den- -ver, in the county of Denver and State of ColQrado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrators; and TlYdo hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ore-concentrators. The object of the invention is" the provision l5 of means for facilitating the separation of precious metals from ores.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a erspective view of a mechanism constructs in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view of the mechanism depicted in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal sectional view of the mechanism ilTustrated c in Fig. 1, the agitating members being removed fromthe horizontal revoluble shaft.

, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the mech anism, showing the adjusting means for the ends of the agitating-member-carrying shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a platform of any'preferred structure, which is rovided at its front or forward end with earing-blocks 5 5'. The platform 1 at'its rear end isprovided with parallel standards 27. Each of the standards 27 is provided with a groove 28 formed upon its inner face, within which is positioned one end of.the horizontal beam 29. The parallel beams 2 are connected at one end to the horizontal 5 beam 29 and at their forward ends are-secured to a horizontal beam or support 4. The beam 4 is provided with trunnions at each end, which are journaled in the bearingblocks 5. The beams 2 and 29 constitute a frame upon which are secured curyed standards 30. These standards 30 are preferably secured to the vertically-.movable frame in parallel positions.

A semicylindrical shell or casing 3, constituting a trough, is positioned between the curved standards 30 At the lower or front end .of the semicylindrical casing there is secured a spout 7, which is employed for discharging the liquid and tailings from the easing. Upon the upper end ofthe casing there is secured a spout 8, similarly constructed to ,spout 7.

,It will be obvious that the frame-is pivotally mounted at the front of and to facilitate the vertical a justment of said frame I employ vertical screws 6 6, whichwhen rotary movement is imparted thereto will raise or lower the rear end of the the adjustment of the frame and casing is accomplished by reason of the fact that the screws 6 'engagethe horizontal beam 29, Fig. 1. By adjusting the rear end of the frarhe the desired slant or inclination of the casing 3 may be obtained for causing successful separation of the metals from the tailings.

he casing 3 is preferably provided with flangked horizontal edges for facilitating the disc arge of liquid into said casin Brackets 31 are secured to upper ends 0 the curve standards 30 and are arran ed to support the horizontal inlet-pipe 18. he liquid-supply ally-extending discharge-nozzles 19 for spraying the liquid over the agitating device and into the casing 3. The liquid-pipe 18 is arranged at one end for connecting with any suitable reservoir.

The tailings or crushed ore may be fed to If it is desired, liquid may be discharged into spout 16 through pipe 17, thereby assisting in discharging said tailings or crushed ore into said casing 3. v V

- The agitating device comprises an approximately horizontal in adjustable boxes vertically movable iii the guides 10 and '11, the said boxes having means for controlling the position of the in the guide 11 is constructed in a similar manner to the box in the guide 10, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that thebox 23 is positioned within the guide 10, which is preferably rectangular in v shape. The guide 10 is provided at each side with a brace 32. Interposed between the box 23- "e platform,

shaft 9, which is journaled shaft with relation to the casing 3. The box' frame, and consequently the casing. Thus pipe 18 is provided with a plurality of laterthe casing 3 through hopper 15 and spout 16. v

and the upper edge of the end of the casing I from said casing through the upper aperture 23 is a cushioning member, preferably a spring 24. A. screw 25 is carried by the.

x 23 downward, and consequently compress the spring 24. Upon rotating thebolt 1 is secured to the arm. Each collar 201s proor adjusting device for feeding the same" ward the spring 24 will lift the box 23 and u t e-{end of the shaft 9. Upon the front or lower end of the shaft 9 there is fixedly se cured a drive-belt wheel 12. A plurality of collars 20 are carried by the shaft 9. Each collar is'preferably provided with a pair of opposite and diametrical extending arms13. Each-collar 20 is adjustably secured in position on the shaft 9 by a set screw or bolt 33; Each of the collars 20 is provided, as just intimated, with a plurality of arms 13, and some of said arms are provide with removable adjustable blades 14, while other arms are provided with removable and adjustable brushes 34. Each blade 14, as well as the back of each brush 34, is preferably curved,

so as to make it segmental in shape and enable it to conform to the inner surface of the cylindrical casing 3. I vious that if it is desired only the outer edge of the blades 14 need be curved, as the inner edge may be straight. The blades 14 and the brushes 34 are secured in a fixed position upon the arms 13 by-means of thumb-screws 26. 'The brushes 34,"as well as the-blades 14, are preferably positioned upon the arms 13, so as to place their outer ends nearer to the upper end of the casing 3 than theend which end; By reason of this notch-and-tbot'h structure of the collars they are adapted to interlock for fixedly securing the same upon the shaft, and thereby prevent independent rotary movement. This structure of the collars also makes it possible to'alter the ra* dial relation of the arms -with respect to each other by changing the relation of each collar with respect to its adjacent collars.

In the drawings I have preferably shown the-collars provided at each edge with a plu- =rality of recesses producing tooth projections which engage similar projections and recesseson the adjoining or abutting collar.-

Owing to the peculiar positioning of the agitating members upon the shaft, a spiral structure is produced which will, through the medium of the blades and brushes, constituting fingers or plows, feed the precious metal from the lower portion of the casing to' the upper end thereof. The tailings being lighter than the metals will be discharged through the lower opening of the casing with the liquid, but the'metals, owing to, their weight, willdrop to the bottom of the concentrator and will be fed toward the upper guide or franie'lO and is adapted to move the Of course it will be oband the spout 8. a

By reason of the spiral structure of the agitating device the crushed ore which is deposited in the casing is continually agitated when the mechanism is in operation. By reason of the peculiar structure of the blades and brushes the brush Will'positively remove any tailings or crushed ore from the sides and bottom of the casing 3, and owingto the positioning of said brushes, as well as the blades upon the arms, the plow action will be obtained for shoveling o'r'throwing the ores toward thezupper end of the concentrator.

The collars 20, which are carried by the shaft 9, constitute an outer or sectional shaft surrounding the primary shaft 9 and the outer or auxiliary shaft carries agitating members which are arranged spirally thereon.

A shovel-like blade, as 22, is provided and preferably arranged near one end of the easing 3, the blade being so positioned asyto facilitate the scraping up of the metal from the bottom of the casing and the delivering therev of to the opening which leads to the spout 8.

What I claim is 1. In a mechanism of the class described,

the combination with a support, of a semicy lindrical casing carried by said support, a horizontal shaft'carried by said casing, interlocking collars carried by said shaft, a blade and brush carried by each of said collars and separate discharges for ore and gan ue.

2. In amechanism of the class described, the combination with a support, of an angularly-adjustable casing carried by said support, a vertically-adjustable shaft carried by said casing, a collar carried by said shaft, an adjustable brush and blade carried by said collar and separate discharges for the ore and gangue.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a support, of a semicylindrical casing carried by said support and vertically adjustable at one end, a revoluble shaft j ournaled uporrsaid casing, removable interlocking collars carried by said shaft, an

arm carried by each of said collars, a removable and adjustable member carried by the said arm and separate discharges for the ore and gangue.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a support, of a pivotally-mounted frame carried by said support, a semicylindrical casing provided with longitudinal flanged edges carried by said frame, a vertically-adjustable shaft journaled upon said casing, interlocking collars carried by said shaft, and spirally-arranged agitating members secured to said collars and discharges for the ore and gangue located at opposite ends of the casing. I I

In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a casing, of an adjustend. of the casing 3 and subsequently pass able revcluble shaft carried by said casing,

interlocking collars carried by said shaft and constituting an outer '-shaft, an adjustable blade and brush carried by each of said collars and discharges for the ore and gangue lo- I cated at different points in said casing.

" 6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a support, of an angularly-adjustable casing carried by said-support, a vertically-adjustable shaft carried by said casing, mutually-interlocking collars carried by said vertically-adjustable shaft, spirally-arranged agitating members carried by said collars and discharges for the ore and gangue.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, theconibination with a support, of a vertically-adjustable semicylindrical casing carried by said support, said casing provided with longitudinal flanged edges, a spout secured to each end of said casing, averticallyadjustable, revoluble shaft journaled upon presence of two witnesses.

other ends of said casing, revoluble collars carried by said shaft,-means connecting said collars for preventing independent movement thereof, and spirally-arranged agitating members carried by said collars.

8. In a mechanism of the class described,

end of the casing relative to the opposite end as a pivot, a revoluble shaft carried by said casing, means for adjusting one end of said shaft vertically relative to the casing, removable colla-rs carried by said shaft, fastening means formed upon and enga ing the edges of said collars for securing t e same against independent movement, and an agitating member carried by one of said collars. 9. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with ore and gangue dischar e spouts at opposite ends, of a shaft carried arin carried by said shaft, and a removable segmental brush carried bysaid arm arranged for operative contact with the inner surface of the casing.

, In testimony whereof I affix my signature WILLIAM LERCHEN.

Witnesses:

CABLE WHITEHEAD, WILLIAM B. STEARNS.

by said casing, an v 

